LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ruled that a husband must pay dower (Haq Mehr) whenever the wife demands it if no payment timing is specified in the marriage contract. Justice Abid Hussain Chattha issued the verdict in a six-page judgment while deciding a petition filed by Fatima Bibi.
The petitioner had sought recovery of maintenance, dowry, and dower amounting to five tolas of gold. However, a trial court had denied the dower claim, prompting her to challenge the decision. Consequently, the high court set aside that ruling, declaring it legally flawed and restoring her right to receive the agreed amount.
Earlier, a family court had ordered the husband to pay Rs5,000 per month as maintenance along with the dower, while rejecting the dowry claim. Subsequently, both parties filed appeals. The appellate court upheld the maintenance order and partially accepted the dowry claim by directing payment of certain items or Rs250,000. Nevertheless, it dismissed the dower claim.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the petitioner approached the high court, arguing that her legal right to dower had been wrongly denied. After reviewing the case, the LHC upheld the findings on maintenance and dowry. However, it ruled that rejecting the dower claim was incorrect and reinstated the family court’s order regarding Mehr.
The judgment clarifies that, in the absence of a specified timeframe, dower remains payable on demand. Therefore, the ruling reinforces the legal protection of women’s financial rights within marriage contracts and provides clear guidance for lower courts handling similar disputes in the future.
